The Stiff label sure knows how to make fun records. Goodie after goodie emerges from this treasure trove of rocking esoterica. Cuts by Motorhead (led by ex-Hawkwind berserker Lemmy) and Stones Masonry (led by Martin Stone, ex-half the groups that ever existed in England) seem slightly out of place; the other tracks mostly smack of the pub-rock aesthetic, meaning '50s and '60s-style rock 'n' roll with '70s techniques, largely dominated by Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds.
In fact, while they are featured on only one cut apiece, between them, in production and/or back-up capacities, Lowe and Edmunds appear on eight of the 11 cuts, including five produced by Lowe. (They didn't touch the Motorhead, Tyla Gang or Graham Parker cuts, the last being the original demo of "Back to School Days," unlisted on the record due to contractual obligations.)
The Lowe-Edmunds group is highlighted by Wreckless Eric's "Go the Whole Wide World" ('67 Grass Roots go punk), Lowe's drolly Dylanesque "I Love My Label," Edmunds's sensational rave-up on "Jo Jo Gunne," plus tracks by Jill Read, Magic Michael and a hilarious LP-closer by the Takeaways (Tyla, Lowe, Edmunds, Pink Fairy Larry Wallis and ??). Hopefully some label will get off its arse and sign Nick Lowe. For him, being on Stiff is treading water, and it'd be grand to see him get serious about making fun records.
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